3: The Cretan Epistomia in Context The Corpus of the Epistomia: Nature and Classification The engraved lamellae are objects sui generis [1] and appear to defy categorization. In order to expedite the study and understanding of these artifacts, Zuntz attempted to set standards for the classification, which have changed as more texts have been published since 1971. [2] More… Read more
4: The Cretan Contexts A Literary Cretan Context The nine incised and three unincised epistomia of Crete, dated between the third century BCE and the first CE, bear witness to a mystery cult(s) and ritual(s) in Eleutherna and Sfakaki, both located in the area to the north of the Idaean Cave. Attempts have been made to place these texts within a Cretan context, but what this context should consist of… Read more
Commentary 10.1ff. The opening lines of this book follow what seems to be a traditional pattern in which a pressing situation causes an inability to sleep, which in turn results in the formulation of a plan of action. We can compare 10.1ff. to the beginnings of Books 2 and 9 for a more complete understanding of the workings and traditional structure of this theme. Iliad 2 begins: ἄλλοι… Read more
Bibliography Note: In the notes and essays of this volume we have used the abbreviation MHV (= The Making of Homeric Verse) for Adam Parry’s 1971 edition of the collected works of Milman Parry. Ahlberg-Cornell, G. 1992. Myth and Epos in Early Greek Art: Representation and Interpretation. Jonsered. Aitken, E. B., and J. K. B. Maclean, eds. 2001. Flavius Philostratus: Heroikos. Read more
Online edition of Hellenic Studies 42, originally published in 2010 by the Trustees for Harvard University. Copyright, Center for Hellenic Studies. Also available for purchase in print via Harvard University Press here. Read more
Acknowledgments This book began as my D.Phil. thesis at Oxford, where I had the rigorous and pleasant experience of being supervised by Professor Martin Goodman and Professor Chris Pelling. They taught me much and continued to be generous with their help even after I took my degree. I especially thank Professor Pelling for reading the entire book manuscript and providing wise advice. Professor Steve Mason of York… Read more
Abbreviations AJC Meshorer, Y. 1982. Ancient Jewish Coinage. Dix Hills, NY. AJP American Journal of Philology ANRW Temporini, H., and W. Haase, eds. 1972–. Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt. Berlin. BMCR Bryn Mawr Classical Review BNP Brill’s New Pauly: Encyclopedia of the Ancient World . 2002–. Leiden. CPJ Tcherikover, V. et al., eds. 1957–1964. Read more
Chapter 1. Introduction: Tragedy, Authority, and Trickery; A Greeting [In this on-line version, the page-numbers of the printed version are indicated within braces (“{” and “}”). For example, “{69|70}” indicates where p. 69 of the printed version ends and p. 70 begins. These indications will be useful to readers who need to look up references made elsewhere to the printed version of this book.] Book 6 of the Iliad presents one… Read more
Chapter 2. Toward a Poetics of Embedded Letters Josephus’ competent readers would have been familiar with the practice of embedding letters, as discussed in Chapter One. By describing epistolary embedding in detail, this chapter will argue that Josephus’ readers would have been quite prepared to apprehend the various ways in which embedded letters interact with their surrounding narratives. Josephus’ portrayal of Herod’s use of letters to convict his sons before a Roman… Read more
Chapter 3. Basic Epistolary Functions Scholars have often placed letters into categories based on their specific purpose, whether it was to extend an invitation, make a recommendation, or provide instruction, to name but a few common themes. [1] More broadly than these themes, letters had basic functions that make up an important part of embedded epistolary poetics. As shown in the discussion on historical… Read more
